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Mary Catherine Kowalke Ware Obituary, 2006

Mary Catherine Ware (nee Kowalke) died Oct. 27, 2006, at her Mount Vernon home. Mary was born on June 14, 1931, in Sac City, Iowa, and grew up in the western Iowa resort town of Lake View. She was a graduate of Lake View High School, Drake University, and the University of Iowa graduate program in library science. Mary was an accomplished gardener, avid reader and 35-year member of the Ingleside Book Club. She served the Mount Vernon Community Schools for 27 years as a business teacher, middle school librarian and finally, as librarian at Mount Vernon High School. She retired in 1995, but remained active as a part-time librarian and member of the library board at Cornell College. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus and Florence Kowalke, and her brother, Richard Kowalke, all of Lake View. She is survived by a large and loving extended family: her husband, Dr. John Ware of Mount Vernon; daughters, Lori Dana (Andrew Dixon) of Chicago, Arden Dana-Pryor (David) of San Antonio, Texas, and son, Richard Dana (Ericka) of Guernsey, Iowa; Scott, Douglas, Dwight, David and Jessie Ware; nieces, Anne Halsey Helgeson and Gail Halsey Bertram and families; and 11 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a Mary Catherine Ware memorial fund being established at the Mount Vernon Bank & Trust Co.